Just had a wonderful weekend in Maine with the colourful and adorable Mary Jane Mucklestone! We were both teaching at an event called Fiber College in Searsport Maine and in fact we also attended each other's classes! Mary Jane's was on Fair Isle and she brought so many wonderful samples with her to inspire us all to be bold with our colour choices. It was a great class and gave me a lot of confidence to plunge deeper into Fair Isle!
(Some of Mary Jane's tams)
(Mary Jane's Boyfriend Socks from the new book Joy of Sox)This was my first official teaching gig and I felt it went well. I taught a class using my Crofter's Cowl pattern so it was a basic intro to lace, knitting in the round and grafting. Just to create a bit of atmosphere I also showed some images I'd taken in Shetland last year, played a wee bit of music from some Shetland bands and provided a little history of lace knitting.
Anyway it has definitely whet my appetite for more teaching!
Mary Jane was such a joy to hang out with. I brought David and the kids with me too and we all felt so at home in Mary Jane's house and with her cute wee Puerto Rican doggie Lee Lee (probably not the right spelling)! We briefly met her husband too (also very nice) who had recently set up their archery target so David and the kids got in some practice and ended up buying a new bow!
Mary Jane has a great taste in textiles, colour and vintage-antique decor. I was often reminded of my mum when perusing her home, perhaps that's why I felt so relaxed there. My mum would have loved meeting her too.
I'm so excited that Mary Jane will also be teaching at the UK Knit Camp in Scotland next summer and that she also plans on getting up to Shetland with me during that trip. Can't wait!
I'm so excited that Mary Jane will also be teaching at the UK Knit Camp in Scotland next summer and that she also plans on getting up to Shetland with me during that trip. Can't wait!
11 comments:
It sounds like you had a great time, Gudrun! I'm glad your class went well. I'm no good at teaching. I learned that in my grad school days TAing the beginning physics classes!
Congrats on your first official teaching :) It all sound so exciting. Love your photos!
I love Mary Jane and her house and dog too.
I wish I could have joined you all at Fiber College...
It looks like such fun!
it all sounds really cool and your photos are stunning as usual.
Looks like a grand time! Beautiful tams & socks. Tempts me to try fair isle -- maybe ;-)
And knit camp in Stirling -- I'd love to go even though I'm a novice knitter. I spent some time in Stirling several years ago and dream of going back. Next summer might be the perfect time -- I hope?
Blessings,
G
Yeah! Well done G - I knew you had in it in you and I bet you did a fantastic job! Love the photos and see what you mean about Mum's taste in decor and furniture; I think she would have felt very much at home at Mary Jane's place. Bx
Hey Gudrun! Wasn't it fun? I do enjoyed having you and your wonderful family stay with us. We should do it every year. Give my love to the mighty archers.
Mary Jane's fair isle looks amazing. So glad you're enjoying teaching, looking forward to meeting up with you in Scotland.
I feel your blog really useful and inspiring me. Thank you
Hi Gudrun
Sorry to interrupt.
My wife is wondering if you're still doing Knit Camp - apparently you've vanished from the "final" timetable, though she hasn't had an emails about this.
Cheers Z
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